MSC Armonia

The 2001-built MSC Armonia cruise ship is the first of MSC's Lirica-class liners, with sisterships Opera, Sinfonia, Lirica. The Armonia ship entered the MSC fleet in 2004. Before that, the boat was operated under the name “MS European Vision” by Festival Cruises (1992-founded/2004-defunct).

History - construction and ownership

MSC Cruises (MSC Crociere) is a passenger shipping company headquartered in Genoa and Naples. It was established in 1960. Today, MSC Crociere is a subsidiary of MSC (Mediterranean Shipping Company) - world's 2nd largest containership company. MSC Crociere is the world's largest privately-owned cruise company. By annual passenger shipping volumes, MSC is ranked world's 4th largest cruise company (after Carnival Corporation, RCCL-Royal Caribbean and NCL-Norwegian) with over 5% global market share.

All 4 vessels of this class (Armonia, Lirica, Opera, Sinfonia) were enlarged/elongated by 24 m (80 ft), adding around 193 new cruise staterooms (including Balcony), 59 more crew cabins, plus new public spaces, new kids facilities (with LEGO and Chicco themed activities), outdoor water park ("Spray Park" with interactive slides, jets and water toys).

The 2000-passenger ship MSC Armonia was built in 2001 in France. Her contemporary features and intimacy are in perfect harmony. The Armonia ship boasts many of other cruise liners’ characteristics, including four restaurants, six bars, Internet Cafe, a video arcade.

Cruise itinerary program

In early-June 2020, MSC Cruises announced that in 2021 the Armonia ship will be homeported in PortMiami (Florida USA) for 3- and 4-night (short-break) cruises departing on Mondays and Fridays. All itineraries visit MSC's private island Ocean Cay.

MSC Armonia itinerary program is currently based on Caribbean roundtrips from homeport Tampa (Florida USA). Starting November 11, 2020, out of Tampa the liner visits ports in Yucatan Mexico and Bahamas the whole year-round. Ship's full winter season (November 2020 – April 2021) offers 4- and 5-night roundtrips. Follows a full summer season (May-November 2021) of 7-day cruises.

Armonia's call ports on shorter (4- and 5-night) voyages include Mexico (Costa Maya, Cozumel, Progreso), Florida (Key West) and Bahamas (Ocean Cay / MSC's private island). By booking B2Bs (back-to-back cruises), MSC cruisers can extend the length of their vacations with 9- or 10-night options. Pricing varies from USD 240 pp (4-night Tampa to Key West and Ocean Cay) to USD 290 (5-night Tampa to to Key West and Progreso) to USD 300 pp (5-night Tampa to Cozumel and Costa Maya).

Following the inaugural Tampa homeporting season, Armonia offers 7-night roundtrips (May through November 2021) with call ports Key West, Cozumel, Progreso, Ocean Cay. Prices start at USD 300 pp.

Previously, Armonia's cruise program was based on the Caribbean homeports Havana Cuba, Cozumel Mexico and Miami Florida.

• 7-day roundtrip from Havana to Roatan (Honduras), Belize City (Belize), Costa Maya (Mexico), Isla de la Juventud (Cuba)
• 7-day roundtrip from Havana to Montego Bay (Jamaica), George Town (Cayman Islands) and Cozumel (Mexico).

Both itineraries were combinable into B2B (14-day back-to-back cruise). In January 2016, MSC Cruises became the industry's first global brand to homeport in Havana. In December 2015, MSC Cruises announced it will further strengthen the company's presence in Cuba by homeporting the second ship in Havana for winter 2016-2017 season. From November 2016, Armonia joined the fleet mate MSC Opera for the entire season. Armonia operated two separate 7-day itineraries, visiting Central America and the Caribbean.

Starting December 2018, MSC Armonia added PortMiami to its list of homeports and to its 8-day Cuban itinerary (with 2 days in Havana / overnight stay). In Miami, Armonia joined the fleet mates MSC Divina and MSC Seaside (launched 2017).

Decks and Cabins

MSC Armonia staterooms (975 total, in 9 grades) include 130 Suites, 94 Balcony, 401 Oceanview and 350 Inside cabins. Most staterooms are sized 140 ft2 / 13 m2. Most cabin balconies are sized 40 ft2 / 4 m2. The largest are the Balcony Suites (250 ft2 / 24 m2 plus 55 ft2 / 5 m2 terrace). The ship has only 4 wheelchair-accessible cabins (type Inside).

The boat has 13 decks, of which 9 are passenger-accessible and 5 with cabins.

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

There are no dining surcharges onboard the MSC Armonia because there are no speciality restaurants on this ship. Armonia offers an abundance of Italian food, but the quality can vary. The Marco Polo Restaurant on Deck 5 is the larger of the two main dining rooms. It features tables for two to six diners. The casual buffet is located on Deck 11 and provides an alternative to the main dining rooms.

Follows the complete list of MSC Armonia restaurants and food bars.

• Marco Polo Restaurant (718-seat aft Dining Room, open for Breakfast 7:00-9:30 a.m., Lunch 12:00-2:00 p.m., and Dinner with 2 fixed seatings at 7:00 and 9:30 p.m., features a 3-course menu for lunch, 7-course for dinner)
• La Pergola Restaurant (358-seat aft Dining Room, dinner only, with 2 fixed seatings)
• Il Girasole Restaurant (404-seats alfresco eatery with two sections - Pizzeria and Outdoor Grill)
• La Brasserie Restaurant (290-seat complimentary self-service buffet restaurant; also serving Afternoon Tea).

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

MSC Armonia ship’s special features include a casino, theatre, disco and cabaret, library, and for those who love sports there is a fitness centre, simulation golf range, two outdoor swimming pools, jacuzzi and SPA. Don’t forget to pamper in the beauty salon. For kids, a special playroom is provided. Additional amenities include complimentary 24-Hour Room-Service, Supervised Children Program, Internet/WiFi Access, Laundry.

Follows the complete list of MSC Armonia lounges, clubs and other entertainment venues for kids, teens and adults.

• Teatro La Fenice Theatre (557-seat, 2-level; features grand-style show productions and classical concerts, with 2 shows per night - at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.)
• The White Lion Pub (107-seats English pub bar)
• Armonia Atrium (2-deck high midship open area)
• Armonia@Cafe (Internet computers room and cyber cafe)
• Gallery (shop selling brand watches and jewellery); Jewelry Shop
• Via Della Spica (shopping alley with duty-free shops); San Marco Shop
• Photo Gallery and Shop
• Cigar Room (10-seat smoking club lounge)
• Bar Del Duomo Lounge and Bar (239-seat cocktail bar; hosts bingo games, art auctions)
• The Red Bar (101-seat piano bar)
• Palm Beach Casino (105-seat, smoking allowed area, own full bar)
• Card Room and Library (41-seat double function room)
• Business Center (198-seat conference/meeting room and cinema)
• Caffe San Marco (100-seat speciality coffee bar, with complimentary cookies and pastries)
• Armonia Lounge (424-seat show lounge for live music performances; hosts dance classes and night cabaret shows)
• MSC Armonia Aurea Spa and Fitness Complex (with Treatment Rooms, Thalassotherapy Room, Saunas, Steam Room, Relaxation Room, Beauty Salon, Gym with aerobics studio for classes)
• 17 Nani Playroom (kids play area)
• Armonia’s Le Piscine Pool Area (with two twin saltwater pools and two Whirlpools)
• Armonia Water Park with slide
• Il Lido Bar (with 3 sections - Main, La Gelateria Bar and Vitamin Bar)
• Teen Club (teenagers lounge for night disco, dance classes, sports-video games contests)
• Star Galaxy Video Games Arcade (tennis and foosball tables)
• Starlight Disco and Nightclub (215-seat, with own full bar)
• Sundeck with Solarium (adult-only relaxation area), Golf Simulator, 9-hole Mini Golf Course
• Sports Center (combined sports court - Shuffleboard, volleyball, basketball, tennis, mini football)
• Power Walking/Jogging Track.

The cruise liner Armonia was built as "European Vision" for Festival Cruises (2001-2004). Armonia is MSC's 1st Lirica-class vessel (in the fleet since 2004) with sisterships Lirica, Opera, Sinfonia. In 2014, the Armonia ship was stretched (elongated by 25 m / 82 ft) in) during a drydock refit done at Fincantieri's shipyard in Palermo Sicily. During the August-November 2014 drydock, the vessel was cut in two and a pre-built section was inserted midship.  Ship's reconstruction project was part of MSC's USD 273 million "Renaissance Program", by which besides Armonia were also enlarged the sisterships Lirica, Opera, and Sinfonia.

MSC Armonia refurbishment 2019 review

Ship's last drydock (November 18 through December 8, 2019) was in Freeport Bahamas. By this USD 30 million project were renovated all public areas and staterooms and were done general maintenance works and minor technical upgrades.

MSC Armonia refurbishment 2014 review

Armonia was majorly furbished in 2014 (dry-dock between August 31 and November 17). There are substantial deck plan changes after that since the ship was stretched (elongated by 25 m / 82 ft). The list of refurbishment 2014 changes includes:

• All cruise cabins were renovated and their amenities upgraded.
• A total of 193 new passenger cabins were added (on deck 9-Ametista, 10-Tormalina, 12-Zaffiro), plus 59 new crew cabins.
• New stateroom categories were introduced.
• An Aqua Park (named Spray Park, with waterfalls and interactive slides) was installed.
• All boutique shops were upgraded (new designs), and one new luxury perfumes shop was added.
• The supervised kids' clubs and play areas were upgraded with equipment and toys by Chicco and LEGO.

The 10-week drydock was valued at nearly EUR 50 million.

Cuba cruise itineraries 2016-2017-2019

In December 2015, MSC Cruises announced that during winter 2016-2017 season, Armonia ship's itinerary program will include two 7-day cruises to Cuba with overnight stays in Havana. The itineraries also included the Caribbean ports Costa Maya, Roatan, Belize City, Grand Cayman and Montego Bay (Jamaica). Another visited Cuban port was Isla de la Juventud.

Armonia became MSC's second ship (together with MSC Opera) with scheduled departures out of Cuba. MSC also offers Caribbean fly-cruise deals from Europe (Spain, Italy, France, Germany), also from Canada and South America (Brazil, Argentina).

Starting December 10, 2018, MSC Armonia cruises on 7-day Caribbean roundtrips (from homeport Miami) that visit Havana (overnight / 2-day port stay). Armonia's deployment is year-round. Itinerary's other call ports include Montego Bay, Georgetown, and Cozumel, then Havana (Saturday arrival, Sunday departure), with only one sea day. Balcony cabin prices started at USD 1170 per person (twin-share rates). In Miami, Armonia joined the larger fleet mates Divina (2012-built) and Seaside (2017-built).